EANWHILE Arcade4 led a life of obscure toil5. He worked at a printer's in the Rue6 St. Beno?t, and lived in an attic7 in the Rue Mouffetard. His comrades having gone on strike, he left the workroom and devoted8 his day to his propaganda. So successful was he that he won over to the side of revolt fifty thousand of those guardian9 angels who, as Zita had surmised10, were discontented with their condition and imbued11 with the spirit of the times. But lacking money, he lacked liberty, and could not employ his time as he wished in instructing the sons of Heaven. So, too, Prince Istar, hampered12 by want of funds, manufactured fewer bombs than were needed, and these less fine. Of course he prepared a good many small pocket[157] machines. He had filled Théophile's rooms with them, and not a day passed but he forgot some and left them lying about on the seats in various cafés. But a nice bomb, easily handled and capable of destroying many big mansions14, cost him from twenty to twenty-five thousand francs; and Prince Istar only possessed two of this kind. Equally bent15 on procuring16 funds, Arcade and Istar both went to make a request for money from a celebrated17 financier named Max Everdingen, who, as everyone knows, is the managing director of the biggest banking18 concern in France and indeed in the whole world. What is not so well known is that Max Everdingen was not born of woman, but is a fallen angel. Nevertheless, such is the truth. In Heaven he was named Sophar, and guarded the treasures of Ialdabaoth, a great collector of gold and precious stones. In the exercise of this function Sophar contracted a love of riches which could not be satisfied in a state of society in which banks and stock exchanges are alike unknown. His heart flamed with an ardent19 love for the god of the Hebrews to whom he remained faithful during a long course of centuries. But at the commencement of the twentieth century of the Christian20 era, casting his eyes down from the height of the firmament21 upon France, he saw that this country, under the name of a Republic, was constituted as a plutocracy22 and that, under the appearance of a democratic govern[158]ment, high finance exercised sovereign sway, untrammelled and unchecked.
Henceforth life in the Empyrean became intolerable to him. He longed for France as for the promised land, and one day, bearing with him all the precious stones he could carry, he descended23 to earth and established himself in Paris. This angel of cupidity24 did good business there. Since his materialisation his face had lost its celestial25 aspect; it reproduced the Semitic type in all its purity, and one could admire the lines and the puckers26 which wrinkle the faces of bankers and which are to be seen in the money-changers of Quintin Matsys.
His beginnings were humble27 and his success amazing. He married an ugly woman and they saw themselves reflected in their children as in a mirror. Baron28 Max Everdingen's large mansion13, which rears itself on the heights of the Trocadéro, is crammed29 with the spoils of Christian Europe.
The Baron received Arcade and Prince Istar in his study,—one of the most modest rooms in his mansion. The ceiling is decorated with a fresco30 of Tiepolo, taken from a Venetian palace. The bureau of the Regent, Philip of Orleans, is in this room, which is full of cabinets, show-cases, pictures, and statues.
Arcade allowed his gaze to wander over the walls.
"How comes it, my brother Sophar," said he,[159] "that you, in spite of your Jewish heart, obey so ill the commandment of the Lord your God who said: 'Thou shalt have no graven images'? for here I see an Apollo of Houdon's and a Hebe of Lemoine's, and several busts31 by Caffieri. And, like Solomon in his old age, O son of God, you set up in your dwelling-place the idols32 of strange nations: for such are this Venus of Boucher, this Jupiter of Rubens, and those nymphs that are indebted to Fragonard's brush for the gooseberry jam which smears33 their gleaming limbs. And here in this single show-case, Sophar, you keep the sceptre of St. Louis, six hundred pearls of Marie Antoinette's broken necklace, the imperial mantle34 of Charles V, the tiara wrought35 by Ghiberti for Pope Martin V, the Colonna, Bonaparte's sword—and I know not what besides."
"My dear Baron," said Prince Istar, "you even possess the ring which Charlemagne placed on a fairy's finger and which was thought to be lost. But let us discuss the business on which we have come. My friend and I have come to ask you for money."
"I can well believe it," replied Max Everdingen. "Everyone wants money, but for different reasons. What do you want money for?"
Prince Istar replied simply:
"To stir up a revolution in France."[160]
"In France!" repeated the Baron, "in France? Well, I shall give you no money for that, you may be quite sure."
Arcade did not disguise the fact that he had expected greater liberality and more generous help from a celestial brother.
"Our project," he said, "is a vast one. It embraces both Heaven and Earth. It is settled in every detail. We shall first bring about a social revolution in France, in Europe, on the whole planet; then we shall carry war into the heavens, where we shall establish a peaceful democracy. And to reduce the citadels37 of Heaven, to overturn the mountain of God, to storm celestial Jerusalem, a vast army is needful, enormous resources, formidable machines, and electrophores of a strength yet unknown. It is our intention to commence with France."
"You are madmen!" exclaimed Baron Everdingen; "madmen and fools! Listen to me. There is not one single reform to carry out in France. All is perfect, finally settled, unchangeable. You hear?—unchangeable." And to add force to his statement, Baron Everdingen banged his fist three times on the Regent's bureau.
"Our points of view differ," said Arcade sweetly. "I think, as does Prince Istar, that everything should be changed in this country. But what boots it to dispute the matter? Moreover, it is too late.[161] We have come to speak to you, O my brother Sophar, in the name of five hundred thousand celestial spirits, all resolved to commence the universal revolution to-morrow."
Baron Everdingen exclaimed that they were crazy, that he would not give a sou, that it was both criminal and mad to attack the most admirable thing in the world, the thing which renders earth more beautiful than heaven—Finance. He was a poet and a prophet. His heart thrilled with holy enthusiasm; he drew attention to the French Savings Bank, the virtuous38 Savings Bank, that chaste39 and pure Savings Bank like unto the Virgin40 of the Canticle who, issuing from the depths of the country in rustic41 petticoat, bears to the robust42 and splendid Bank—her bridegroom, who awaits her—the treasures of her love; and drew a picture of the Bank, enriched with the gifts of its spouse43, pouring on all the nations of the world torrents44 of gold, which, of themselves, by a thousand invisible channels return in still greater abundance to the blessed land from which they sprung.
"By Deposit and Loan," he went on, "France has become the New Jerusalem, shedding her glory over all the nations of Europe, and the Kings of the Earth come to kiss her rosy45 feet. And that is what you would fain destroy? You are both impious and sacrilegious."
Thus spoke46 the angel of finance. An invisible[162] harp47 accompanied his voice, and his eyes darted48 lightning.
Meanwhile Arcade, leaning carelessly against the Regent's bureau, spread out under the Banker's eyes various ground-plans, underground-plans, and sky-plans of Paris with red crosses indicating the points where bombs should be simultaneously49 placed in cellars and catacombs, thrown on public ways, and flung by a flotilla of aeroplanes. All the financial establishments, and notably50 the Everdingen Bank and its branches, were marked with red crosses.
"Nonsense! you are but wretches52 and vagabonds, shadowed by all the police of the world. You are penniless. How can you manufacture all the machines?"
By way of reply, Prince Istar drew from his pocket a small copper53 cylinder54, which he gracefully55 presented to Baron Everdingen.
"You see," said he, "this ordinary-looking box. It is only necessary to let it fall on the ground immediately to reduce this mansion with its inmates56 to a mass of smoking ashes, and to set a fire going which would devour57 all the Trocadéro quarter. I have ten thousand like that, and I make three dozen a day."
The financier asked the Cherub58 to replace the machine in his pocket, and continued in a conciliatory tone:[163]
"Listen to me, my friends. Go and start a revolution at once in Heaven, and leave things alone in this country. I will sign a cheque for you. You can procure59 all the material you need to attack celestial Jerusalem."
And Baron Everdingen was already working up in his imagination a magnificent deal in electrophores and war-material.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
favourably
|
|
| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
savings
|
|
| n.存款，储蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
arcade
|
|
| n.拱廊；(一侧或两侧有商店的)通道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
attic
|
|
| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
surmised
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
imbued
|
|
| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
hampered
|
|
| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mansions
|
|
| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
procuring
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
banking
|
|
| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
firmament
|
|
| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
plutocracy
|
|
| n.富豪统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
cupidity
|
|
| n.贪心，贪财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
puckers
|
|
| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
baron
|
|
| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
crammed
|
|
| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
fresco
|
|
| n.壁画；vt.作壁画于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
busts
|
|
| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
idols
|
|
| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
smears
|
|
| 污迹( smear的名词复数 )； 污斑； （显微镜的）涂片； 诽谤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
citadels
|
|
| n.城堡，堡垒( citadel的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
virtuous
|
|
| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
chaste
|
|
| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
robust
|
|
| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
spouse
|
|
| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
torrents
|
|
| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
harp
|
|
| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
notably
|
|
| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
wretches
|
|
| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
cylinder
|
|
| n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
inmates
|
|
| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
devour
|
|
| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
cherub
|
|
| n.小天使，胖娃娃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |